IMCA publishes some 200 guidance notes and technical reports. These are a highly appreciated collection, adding value for our members by improving business performance and safety levels.

So far in 2020 we have published 8 new guidance documents, issued 35 updates, 48 information notes, 30 safety flashes containing some 120 safety alerts, and 14 bulletins.

Working through our committees we update and validate our guidance to share with our membership. As our IMCA committees comprise representatives from the industry, our documents can truly be said to have been created by the industry for the industry.

This library of documents has been developed over the years and they are a definition of what IMCA stands for. The library includes widely recognised diving and ROV codes of practice, DP documentation, marine good practice guidance, the Common Marine Inspection Document (CMID) (now available exclusively electronically as eCMID), safety recommendations, outline training syllabi and the IMCA competence scheme guidance. In addition to the range of printed guidance documents, IMCA also produces safety promotional materials, and circulates information notes and safety flashes electronically.

IMCA documents are available to all members free of charge and available to non-members to purchase.

Recent amendments, updates and new releases include the following:

New Publications

• Code of Practice for Offshore Pipeline and Umbilical Installation Systems (IMCA M 253)
   
  This document sets out guidance that defines the minimum requirements for installation of offshore pipeline and umbilical systems and is the output of a workgroup established in April 2018.
• Basic safety training requirements for vessel personnel employed in the renewable energy sector (IMCA C 018)
   
  This document sets out to bring clarity to basic safety training requirements for personnel employed in the offshore renewable energy sector.
• Safe hands lifting (IMCA HSSE 045)
   
  This short video highlights the importance of your hands, and outlines some working practices that will enable you to keep them safe during lifting operations.
• Guidance on the use of whip checks (hose restraints) (IMCA D 065)

Updated Guidance

• Guidance for The Initial and Refresher Familiarisation of Vessel Crews (IMCA HSSE 003 Rev 1.1)
   
  This document sets out aspects to be covered in familiarisation training of personnel joining a vessel. It covers both personnel new to a vessel (induction training) and refresher training for existing personnel, including examples of topics to be covered in familiarisation programmes.
   
  The 2020 revision, conducted by the HSSE Core Committee, the Marine Division Management Committee and members of the Safety Training Matrix workgroup, included additional elements for Project-Specific Familiarisation Training, training for Incident Prevention and in Environmental Issues, and significant updates to training in Working at Height and Working Together.
• Guidance on Travel Security (IMCA HSSE 014 Rev 1.1)
   
  This document aims to address the common risks likely to occur when travelling and to offer guidance to the traveller and with respect to company procedures, for the employer.
   
  This revision contains updates to the sections on street security, kidnapping and terrorist events.
• Guidelines on the Management of Survey and Inspection Data (IMCA S 020 Rev. 0.1)
   
  This document provides guidance on the management and transfer of large volumes of valuable or significant survey and inspection data – the intent being to minimise or prevent unnecessary corruption and/or loss.
   
  This revision, part of the ongoing ISO 9000 regular review process, is in two areas. Firstly, updating to reflect current technical practice, and secondly, updating to include reference to use of cloud-based storage.
• Guidelines on the Shared Use of Sensors for Survey and Positioning Purposes (IMCA S 023, M 235)
   
  This guidance, also issued as IMCA M 235, was originally two separate documents, Guidelines for the shared use of DGPS for DP and survey operations and Guidelines for the shared use of sensors for DP and survey operations. The purpose of the documents was two-fold; to provide guidance in highlighting the risks associated with sharing vessel DP sensors for survey operations, and to provide guidance on developing procedures to mitigate those risks. In 2014, the two were merged to form this one common document.
   
  The amendments at this time are minor in nature and mainly bring the language up to date.

Reviewed

An annual review was undertaken in September of "Risk based assessment of cylinder internal examination periodicity", published by the UK Diving Industry Committee and supported by IMCA.